FAQ

When should I travel to Washington, DC for the Inauguration? What is the difference between the official Inaugural Gala and State Society Galas? These are just a few questions that were sent to us in 2008 when InaugurationEvents.com was first created and we thought we’d offer a FAQ page to answer all your questions! Feel free to submit any additional questions by clicking here.

Is InaugurationEvents.com affiliated with the White House?
InaugurationEvents.com is not affiliated with:
1) The White House
2) Joint Congressional Committee
3) 113th Congress

InaugrationEvents.com is an event listing and blogging resource to keep our visitors informed of all events taking place in Washington, DC during the Presidential Inauguration.

What is the Presidential Inauguration?
The Presidential Inauguration is a formal ceremony that will mark the beginning of Barack Obama’s second term in office as President. The “inaugural address” is a speech given during this ceremony which informs the people of his intentions during this second term.

What events take place the day of Inauguration?
There are a number of activities that take place on the day of Inauguration (Monday, January 21, 2013). Below is a complete list of of the day’s events:

Where does the Presidential Swearing-In Ceremony take place and how do I get tickets?
Senators and Representatives of the 113th Congress distribute tickets for the Inaugural Swearing-In Ceremonies in January 2013. Tickets are provided free of charge.

However, viewing the Swearing-In Ceremonies from the National Mall DOES NOT require tickets. This non-ticketed area of the National Mall begins at Fourth Street NW.

What are the Inaugural Balls?
There are the Official Inaugural Galas and State Society Galas:

The Official Inaugural Galas are planned by the Presidential Inaugural Committee and tickets are not available to the public.

State Society Galas are unofficial balls and galas hosted by state societies (i.e. Chicago, Florida, Texas and Hawaii, etc.) You are able to purchase tickets to these events. Click here for details.

What other events take place throughout DC in celebration of the Presidential Inauguration?
Several unofficial events will take place throughout the city the week prior to the Inauguration (Monday, January 14 – Sunday, January 20) leading up to Inauguration Day itself (Monday, January 21). This includes events hosted by organizations, celebrities, restaurants and popular nightlife venues.

For example, for the 2009 Inauguration on January 18, an official welcome concert (that InaugurationEvents.com attended) was held on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to kick off the inaugural celebration. The event was open to the public and broadcast live exclusively on HBO.

We hope a similar event takes place again this year!

What is the Presidential Inaugural Parade?
The Inaugural Parade is held on Inauguration Day (Monday, January 21).

The parade takes place along Pennsylvania Avenue NW where viewing stands and bleachers will be available. Tickets are NOT required for this event. Viewing stands and bleachers will extend. Basically, you can line up along the route of the parade.

**We highly recommend trying to stay within the city during the Inauguration

Hotels
Hotels in Washington, DC will (and have already) increased nightly rates just for the Inauguration. Follow this link for a comprehensive list of all hotels in Washington, DC and search for accomodations.

3rd Party Accommodation Sites
We highly recommend using a 3rd party accommodation sites where you can rent out space from people already living in Washington, DC more than likely for a cheaper rate when compared to a hotel.

Airbnb.com
Founded in August of 2008 and based in San Francisco, California, Airbnb is a trusted community marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations around the world — online or from a mobile phone. Whether an apartment for a night, a castle for a week, or a villa for a month, Airbnb connects people to unique travel experiences, at any price point, in more than 26,000 cities and 192 countries.

Craigslist.com
Craiglist.com is also a great source to find 3rd party accomodations while in Washington, DC for the Inauguration.

What is the best way to commute around the city?
Washington, DC has a pretty reliable and robust transit system and is our recommendation for the best way to travel while in DC for the Inauguration. Click here to visit the The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) website for complete details on travel during the Inauguration.

What is the best day to arrive in Washington, DC for the Inauguration?
We recommend at least arriving into the city Wednesday, January 16.

Have additional questions you’d like answered? Feel free to email us at info[at]inaugurationevents.com or submit your question here!

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